How Liv became a Nurse through Clearing and Foundation Year course

Inspired to pursue a career in nursing

When the NHS saved Liv Aston’s life it inspired her to pursue a career in nursing but her hopes were halted by A level heartbreak.

Now she is on track to join her heroes having secured a place to study at Coventry University, thanks to a foundation course at CU Coventry.

The 19-year-old was determined to become a nurse after a diagnosis with type one diabetes at the age of 11 saw her face a prolonged period of treatment at Walsall Hospital.

She is now managing the condition and is set to follow in the footsteps of the people she credits with saving her life, after securing a spot on the course Children and Young People’s Nursing BSc (Hons).

A level results not what I expected

But the Coventry teenager thought her dreams of nursing were dashed in 2019 until an Applied Biosciences foundation course at the CU Coventry campus gave her the stepping stone to re-apply this year.

Liv is now looking forward to starting her journey as a student nurse with Coventry University, which includes placements at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and is urging other school leavers not to overlook the foundation route that offers an alternative path to university if they’ve not achieved the grades they were hoping for.

"To say I was devastated when I got my A level results is an understatement.

I thought my results would prevent me from following my dream.

In 2019 I was offered an Applied Biosciences foundation course via Clearing at the CU Coventry campus, but when I saw the word ‘foundation’ I was not sure it was the path for me.

I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was 11 and I was diagnosed with type one diabetes.

I was always in and out of hospital due to being so poorly, and watching the nurses and doctors who looked after me inspired me to give back to the NHS for saving my life."

Liv Aston

Studying a foundation year

Liv’s passion for nursing was also inspired by her late grandmother Gaynor Aston, who worked at Birmingham Children’s Hospital prior to passing away two years ago.

"My Nan was also a nurse and she has always been an inspiration in my life. I was able to work with her and shadow her for the week when I had work experience back in 2016. The work experience confirmed for me how much I really wanted to pursue and follow my dreams.

I began to look over what Applied Biosciences meant and learned a lot more about the course, and that it was a small stepping stone for me to progress onto my desired course at the main campus.

I finally accepted the offer from CU Coventry, and I must say it has been the best decision that I have ever made.

Studying a foundation year has allowed me to be a student, to have fun, meet best friends and to have a year where I had no exams, less stress and to really enjoy my first year of being a university student.

I am so pleased and excited to be starting on the degree this September. The pandemic, has encouraged me to push further to be a nurse as the hard work and incredible commitment from the NHS workers has shown to the world how incredible and strong the service and their workers are, and I want to be a part of that service."

Liv Aston